News

The ROC (Taiwan) today added US$100,000 to its June contribution of US$200,000 in support of the Republic of the Marshall Islands’ (RMI) hosting of the 44th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Ambassador George T.K. Li, in making the donation to RMI Minister of Foreign Affairs Phillip Muller, also committed to further beautification assistance including a dump truck and flowers for the September event.

President Christopher J. Loeak called last week for national unity in the Republic of the Marshall Islands - the need to forge strong partnerships and working together to find solutions to the pressing issues facing the country. Addressing the nation during the Nitijela (Parliament) 34th Constitutional 2nd session’s opening ceremony, the President said that the global financial crisis has affected investments and economic development. These have been exacerbated by the recent natural disasters. The Government, however, continues to provide its mandated services to the people of the Republic.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Public Service Commission's search for candidates for Secretary of Health, Secretary of Public Works, and Attorney General continues with application deadlines extended for the three posts.

Minister Tony de Brum, Minister-in-Assistance to the Republic of the Marshall Islands President, is due to depart Majuro this weekend for a five-day visit to Australia to raise the profile and explain RMI's vision for the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' meeting, including RMI's proposal for a “Majuro Declaration for Climate Leadership.”

President Christopher J. Loeak was in Palau for the 13th Micronesian Presidents' Summit (MPS) held 10-12 July in Koror, Palau. He joined the Federated States of Micronesia President Emanuel Mori and the host of this year's MPS, Republic of Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. The Micronesian Presidents Summit concluded with the signing of the Ernguul (Old name for Koror) Communiqué.

The U.S. State Department last month released its annual global analyses of trafficking investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences. Of 188 governments, only thirty continued to address the problem meeting the minimum compliance standards of Tier 1.

Ninety-two countries in Tier 2 did not fully comply. From that group, forty-four nations, including the Republic of the Marshall Islands which was identified as a destination country for sex trafficking of East Asia women, were downgraded even further to the Tier 2 Watch list.

Hawaii, Guam, and the CNMI, over an eight-year period, reported more than $1 billion in costs associated with providing education, health, and social services to compact migrants from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Marshall Islands, and Palau.

However, an official of the US Government Accountability Office (GAO), in a statement released today, pointed to weaknesses related to accuracy, adequacy of documentation, and comprehensiveness in reporting by the impacted jurisdictions.The GAO also reported that the overseeing Department of Interior had not followed-up on a 2012 recommendation to develop new uniform compact-impact reporting guidelines.

Members of Pacific Partnership 2013 worked with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to deliver a reverse osmosis water system donated by the U.S. Agency for International Development to Ebeye, an island in the Kwajalein Atoll of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, July 7. The reverse osmosis system, donated about two years ago, was loaded onto a landing craft utility (LCU) in Majuro, the capital city, about 140 miles from Ebeye.

A donation of food and medical supplies from NGO’s in the Republic of China (Taiwan) to assist for Marshall Islands’ disaster relief is part of continuing goodwill efforts, said ROC (Taiwan) Ambassador George T.K. Li in making the presentation to RMI Chief Secretary Casten Nemra on Wednesday.

Taiwan has also given USD100,000 cash donation and USD 231,420 from the ROC (Taiwan) annual grant to assist drought-affected areas.

President Christopher J. Loeak yesterday welcomed Pacific Partnership 2013 (PP13) Mission Commander Wallace Lovely to the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) during a courtesy call by the Commander, PP13 members, and US Ambassador Thomas Armbruster.

On Wednesday, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) dropped its anchor in Majuro, the third port for the PP13 mission. More than 700 US military members, partner nation service members, and non-governmental organization volunteers will be conducting a variety of humanitarian projects.

As President Obama rose to the podium to announce his long-awaited ‘Climate Action Plan’ on Tuesday, a king tide again brought the devastating reality of climate change to the people of the Marshall Islands (RMI).

With emergency teams still scrambling to deliver water and food to RMI’s drought-stricken northern atolls, the capital Majuro was struck by heaving waves that breached the city’s sea walls, flooding the airport and other major areas of the atoll nation’s major population center.

Republic of the Marshall Islands President Christopher Loeak spent Saturday and Monday touring 5 drought-affected atolls/islands and reassuring the residents of the government's continued support. Throughout the tour, President Loeak handed over relief supplies including WASH kits, hygienic kits, food, and water.

“We are grateful that our bilateral partners, international organizations, and Marshallese from around the world have assisted with relief efforts towards the drought," President Loeak said.

On June 25, 3013, extremely high tides combined with 6 to 8 feet surfs caused coastal inundation of up to 2 feet along the south facing shores of Majuro. Meteorologist-in-Charge Reginald White submitted the following report:

During the highest tide (around 6:00 a.m. ) the sea began to inundate the southeast to the southwest parts of Majuro. The saltwater breached the coastal roadways and littered them with debris.